How will the game industry adapt? Are we hurtling towards a gig economy?

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Trent Kusters, co-founder and studio head of League of Geeks, to talk about the future of our industry. Trent takes us on a deep, honest exploration of the game industry’s current state, from platform power struggles and algorithmic curation to the erosion of full-time game dev careers.

This vital conversation goes beyond just metrics, delving into the human element, sustainability, and the legacy we're creating for the next generation of talent.

Here's what we'll learn in this episode:

- The emergence of a game dev gig economy
- Full-time game dev jobs are becoming more rare
- How power is consolidating with platform distributors
- Indie success is now a scary prospect, with a lot less clarity
- Why Leaders need sound financial foresight and tight governance
- How algorithm-driven curation misses humanity and judgment
- Why it takes 10 years to make a game studio

Resources mentioned:

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth: https://www.amazon.com/Doughnut-Economics-Seven-21st-Century-Economist/dp/1603586741
Insomniac Games Founder, Ted Price | The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Podcast: https://youtu.be/5NaHG3T35vs?feature=shared

Creating a Rhythm-Action Game with Hi-Fi Rush Director John Johanas | AIAS Game Maker's Notebook: https://youtu.be/eFtGxFnOwtY?feature=shared

Matthew Ball's Presentation: The State of Video Gaming in 2025: https://www.matthewball.co/all/stateofvideogaming2025

Shams Jorjani's "The Business of Video Games" featuring Xalavier Nelson Jr.: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jyh9a-18333d4

Learn more about Trent Kusters:

League of Geeks Website: https://leagueofgeeks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentkusters/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/trentkusters

Recommended games to check out!

I Am Your Beast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4RHkNCLtIU&ab_channel=IGN

Town To City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRY-RgWh6hg&ab_channel=IGN

Caves of Qud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c6burNvtsU&ab_channel=KitfoxGames

Want to know when you’ll be done? Master game and software estimation so you can make better decisions sooner.
Learn more in our Advanced Estimation Course: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/advanced-estimation-course

Connect with us:
Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#

Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw

#GameDev #GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #GameStudio #GameIndustryInsights

What does it truly take to deliver a great game consistently in an industry known for its challenges and complexities? Join us for a conversation with Steve Sargent, Head of Production at Blind Squirrel Games, a veteran with over 35 years of experience in the game industry, including work on iconic titles like BioShock: The Collection and Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Steve dives deep into the art and science of game production, sharing the things to do, and also what to avoid, from his extensive career.

You'll learn:

• The core role of production
• Why reporting can actually add value - if it’s done right!
• The five key behaviors that drive trust and success in game development
• Why pursuing "efficiency at all costs" can actually be detrimental to creating a great game
• The importance of understanding "the why" behind your processes, rather than just following rituals
• How to foster an environment where team members feel empowered to take ownership and solve problems
• Why planning is essential for alignment, even when the details change

Whether you're an aspiring producer, an indie developer, or a seasoned leader, Steve's hard-earned wisdom offers actionable takeaways to help you build better games and stronger teams.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-sargent-00ba59/
• Blind Squirrel Entertainment: https://blindsquirrelentertainment.com/
• MobyGames Profile: https://www.mobygames.com/person/26147/steven-b-sargent/

• Agile Game Development with Scrum by Clinton Keith: https://www.amazon.com/Agile-Game-Development-Scrum-Clint/dp/0321617415
• Mike Cohn's Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mike-Cohn/author/B001JRX4F4

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/

Twitter: https://x.com/BBG_Podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#

Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw

#GameProduction #GameDev #AgileDevelopment #TeamLeadership #BlindSquirrelGames

Game production lives and dies on planning—but most teams are still building like it’s 2010.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Jeanne-Marie Owens and Jesse Houston of Critical Path to reveal better ways a studio can function based on decades of experience. From the myth of the “critical path” to the illusion that things will magically come together in the final stretch, they explain why “figure it out later” kills projects, how lack of real commitment cripples teams, and what it actually takes to build a dependable studio culture. Hint: It’s not a short list of “values.”

This is a wake-up call for any studio still relying on outdated ideas about how work gets done, and a practical guide to doing better.

🔍 You’ll Hear:
- Why “fix it later” is the most expensive lie in game development
- What the critical path really means—and how most studios misuse it
- Why real planning requires saying no
- The deadly effect of partial commitment on team morale and outcomes
- Why you have to be willing to make choices that limit your own options
- How senior leaders create or destroy the culture by what they tolerate

If you’re a studio leader, producer, or creative tired of chaos and ready to build games with clarity, intention, and momentum, check it out!

Connect with Critical Path Games:
Critical Path Games – https://critpath.com/

🎮 Join the Building Better Games Community:
- BBG Discord – Connect with devs, producers, and leaders building better studios:
https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ
- Level Up Your Production Skills – Take our flagship course:
https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production
- Get Leadership Insights Weekly – Subscribe to the BBG newsletter:
https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

🌐 Connect with Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich
Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbg.valarininc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on game dev leadership, production, and culture.

#GameProduction #GameLeadership #CriticalPath #StudioCulture #BuildingBetterGames

Hiring only senior engineers might feel like a smart move, but is it breaking game development?

In this episode, Ben sits down with Carly Taylor (an engineer and data scientist formerly on Call of Duty, now at Databricks) to tackle one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in game development today: the crumbling pipeline of engineering talent.

They dive deep into the tragedy of the commons happening across studios, where short-term thinking and overreliance on senior talent are putting the future of game engineering at risk. Carly sheds light on the danger of under-investing in junior talent, the mentorship void left behind by remote work, and the role AI is really playing (hint: it's not what vendors are promising).

Whether you're leading a studio, managing engineers, or trying to break into games yourself, this episode is a wake-up call.

You’ll Hear:
-Why the next generation of engineers is not being mentored
-How studios are draining the senior talent pool
-The real technical challenges of using AI in games
-Why hiring only senior devs doesn’t produce better games
-What juniors bring to the table (and why companies should listen)
-How remote work disrupted knowledge transfer and how to rebuild it
-Why game dev is still one of the most passionate industries in tech

Connect with Carly Taylor:
- Website: https://www.rebeldatascience.com/
- Substack: https://carlytaylor.substack.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-taylor
- Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/dataaisummit/speaker/carly-taylor

Join the Building Better Games Community:
- BBG Discord: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ
- Level Up Your Production Skills: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production
- Subscribe to the BBG newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Connect with Us:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich
- Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbg.valarininc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on game dev leadership, production, and culture.

Building a game is hard. Leading the team to do it well without losing yourself along the way? That’s even harder.

In this episode, Ben sits down with Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership and a former Head of Studio, to talk about the messy, emotional, and deeply human side of game leadership. From BAFTA boardrooms to indie trenches, Melissa brings a rare blend of psychological insight and real-world experience to one of the most overlooked conversations in game development: what happens when power, pressure, and people collide.

They dig into what founders get wrong, why doing “everything right” can still lead to failure, and how today’s leaders can navigate burnout, broken systems, and the crushing uncertainty of building something new.

You’ll hear:

• Why leadership in games is different and often lonely
• The hidden cost of scaling a team too fast
• How power changes you (whether you like it or not)
• What founders need before they build the next big thing
• Why we need to talk about failure and what it teaches us
• What it really means to lead with resilience in an industry built on chaos
  
  

If you’re a founder, leader, or future studio builder, this one’s for you.

Connect with Melissa & Games Leadership:

🌐 gamesleadership.com
🔗 LinkedIn – Melissa Phillips
🎓 Explore the Games Leadership Blueprint – 12-week leadership program

Looking to grow as a developer, producer, or studio leader? We've got you covered.

✅ Join the BBG Discord
Connect with a community of developers, producers, and industry leaders working to build healthier studios and stronger games.
🔗 https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

✅ Level Up Your Production Skills
Explore our flagship online course, Succeeding in Game Production, and become the producer your team needs.
🔗 https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

✅ Get Insights in Your Inbox
Subscribe to our newsletter for fresh, actionable leadership and production content delivered straight to you.
🔗 https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Connect with Us:

• LinkedIn: Building Better Games
• Twitter: @BBG_Podcast
• Instagram: @buildingbettergames
• Website: buildingbettergames.com
• YouTube: Building Better Games

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on building better studios, better games, and better leadership in the game industry.

#GameLeadership #IndieGameDev #StudioCulture #GamesIndustryInsights #LeadershipInGames

What if the next great game studio doesn’t come from the West?

In this episode, Ben chats with Rob Wynne and Clark Kosene from Rising Tide Studios—an unannounced AAA-inspired indie team taking a bold leap: building a game that truly bridges Eastern and Western audiences.

We dive deep into why the moat of Western AAA game development is disappearing fast—and how China, with more devs than the U.S. and EU combined, is already playing on equal footing. Rob and Clark share the untold story of how Rising Tide’s founding team (ex-Activision and former Soulslike directors) aims to skip the slow forming-storming norm and go straight to "performing" with their next-gen isometric action roguelike.

• Why are Western games losing ground?
• Can a game truly appeal to both Western and Eastern markets?
• How do you create narrative depth without sacrificing gameplay flow?
• Why creativity thrives on constraints—and how Rising Tide harnessed it

Clark also reflects on transitioning from screenwriting to games, and the team’s surprising approach to embedding story: real-time commentary inspired by Chinese crosstalk comedy. Their goal? A game where narrative flows during gameplay—not in between.

If you're interested in global game dev trends, narrative innovation, or the future of indie-AAA (triple-I) development, don’t miss this conversation.

Stay Connected:

Ben Carcich (Host, Building Better Games)

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich
• Substack: https://bencarcich.substack.com
• Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

Rob Wynne (Co-founder, Rising Tide Studios)

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwynnestudiofounder
• Website: https://projectgreatwall.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RisingTideOfficial

Clark Kosene (Narrative Lead)

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-kosene-25745227
• Website: https://kosenecreative.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kosenecreative4589

Rising Tide Studios

• Website: https://projectgreatwall.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RisingTideOfficial

Get full uncut episodes & behind-the-scenes content:

https://www.patreon.com/buildingbettergames

How would you know if your studio’s culture is toxic—before it’s too late?

In this exclusive conversation, we talk with Charlie Sull, co-founder of CultureX and researcher with MIT, about how to spot, measure, and fix toxic workplace culture—especially in the high-stakes world of game development.

Forget ping pong tables and free snacks. Culture is your operating system, and if leaders don’t prioritize it, dysfunction spreads fast.

We break down:

• What creates a toxic culture
• The Toxic Five behaviors that damage morale and hurt retention
• Why standard employee surveys fail—and what to do instead
• How AI and Glassdoor data can tell you some hard truths about your company
• Real stats on game studios vs. other industries—who’s getting it right?

If you're a studio head, team lead, or future cultural change-maker, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you new tools to build a better workplace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why culture is more than perks—it’s your company’s operating system
• The Toxic Five traits that silently destroy trust and retention
• How Glassdoor + AI reveal the truth about your team’s culture
• Why top leadership, not HR, is key to lasting culture change
• What game dev studios like EA and Blizzard can teach us about reform
• How to apply the Will + Knowledge formula to lead cultural transformation

Books & Authors Mentioned (and Must-Reads!) from This Episode

• The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

- Focuses on the "heart" vs. "science" sides of business—emphasizing the value of culture

• Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

- Referenced for understanding team behavior and dysfunction

• Works by Charles O’Reilly

- Recommended by Charlie Sull for understanding organizational culture and leadership

- Notable titles include Winning Through Innovation and Lead and Disrupt

• Research & insights from CultureX (Charlie Sull’s organization)

- Practical tools and AI-driven metrics for measuring and improving workplace culture

🔗 Learn More & Connect
Charlie Sull & CultureX
🌐 Website: https://www.culturex.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-sull/
🎧 Podcast Series: Culture Champions (MIT Sloan Management Review)

Join the Community

Our Discord community is live! Join the conversation with game developers, producers, and industry leaders committed to improving the future of game development: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

Looking to level up your game production skills? Explore our online course designed to help you become a more effective game producer: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Stay ahead with game development insights delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Connect with Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBG_Podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames
Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/

Support the Show! Help us create more amazing content by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BBGOfficial

Let’s keep building better games—together.

Building a great game is hard—but getting players to actually discover and play it? That’s often harder.

In this episode of Building Better Games, Ben sits down with user acquisition expert Matej Lančarič, whose decade of experience spans mobile, PC, Steam, and cross-platform launches. Together, they dive deep into the realities of user acquisition (UA), creative strategy, and why great games still fail without a clear plan to get players in the door.

We break down:

• What “user acquisition” really means in 2024
• Why CPI, LTV, ROAS, and retention all matter—but don’t tell the whole story
• How studios waste UA budgets by skipping data health and onboarding funnels
• Why today’s ads look nothing like the games—and why they still work
• The surprising metrics that matter most (and how to track them)
• What the best studios are doing to lower CPI and extend LTV curves
• The role of creative testing, paid channels, and landing page optimization

Matej shares how mobile’s UA evolution is coming to PC and console games, and why studio leaders must get hands-on with their marketing strategy before it’s too late.

Whether you're a game developer, producer, or studio lead, this episode is your tactical crash course on how to actually reach players in 2024’s overcrowded game market.

Connect with Matej Lančarič:

Website: https://lancaric.me/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matejlancaric

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matej_lancaric

Join the Community
Our Discord community is live! Join the conversation with game developers, producers, and industry leaders committed to improving the future of game development: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

Looking to level up your game production skills? Explore our online course designed to help you become a more effective game producer: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Stay ahead with game development insights delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Connect with Us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBG_Podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames

Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/

Support the Show! Help us create more amazing content by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BBGOfficial

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes focused on building better studios, better games, and better leadership in the game industry.